A 71-year-old Baker County woman who died on Wednesday, April 14 at a Boise hospital is the 14th county resident to die after testing positive for COVID-19, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) r…
CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) TIMELINE
A 71-year-old Baker County woman who died on Wednesday, April 14 at a Boise hospital is the 14th county resident to die after testing positive for COVID-19, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported. Read more
Students in the North Powder School District will take classes online through April 22 because as many as 30 students were potentially exposed to COVID-19. Read more
A 71-year-old Baker County woman who died on Wednesday, April 14 at a Boise hospital is the 14th county resident to die after testing positive for COVID-19, the Oregon Health Authority reported today. Read more
Baker County’s COVID-19 surge continued on Tuesday, April 13 with 14 new cases, the highest one-day total since late December, and the third-most in any day during the pandemic. Read more
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has asked all of the state’s vaccine providers to immediately stop administering the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, per the announcement from the U.S. CDC and FDA this morning. This is out of an abundance of caution as they review six cases of a rare and sever… Read more
A student at the Baker School District’s Baker Early Learning Center, which has preschool and kindergarten classrooms, has tested positive for COVID-19, the school district announced Sunday, April 11. Read more
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has fixed an error in its system for reporting county-level COVID-19 vaccination numbers, and the correction had a big effect on Baker County, whose inflated numbers prompted the agency to look at the situation in late March. Read more
One of Baker County’s major summer events — three of them, actually — are slated to return in 2021 after being casualties of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Read more
A 75-year-old Baker City man who died on April 3 is the 13th county resident to die after testing positive for COVID-19, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported Friday, April 9.The man, who had underlying medical conditions, tested positive on March 24. He died at his home, according to the OHA. Read more
A fourth employee at Brooklyn Primary School has tested positive for COVID-19, the Baker School District reported this morning. Read more
The Baker School District on Wednesday, April 7 confirmed what it had had been planning, and expected to happen — students in grades 7 through 12 will return to full in-person classes on Monday, April 12. Read more
One employee and two substitute teachers at Brooklyn Primary School tested positive for COVID-19, and all three contracted the virus outside of school, the Baker School District announced on Friday, April 2. Read more
A recent change to Oregon’s COVID-19 risk level system should allow Baker County to remain at the lowest level, with the least severe restrictions, through most of April even though the county’s case rate has nearly tripled in the past two weeks. Read more
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) estimates that its website had recently exaggerated by about 50% the number of Baker County residents who have been partially or fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Read more
The Hells Canyon Motorcycle Rally, one of Baker City’s biggest annual events, will be a two-time casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
Chelsea Hurliman is eager for Baker High School students to return to a four-day week and remain in their classrooms all day except when they are called away for extracurricular activities. Read more
The COVID-19 pandemic has hampered all sorts of events, but American Red Cross blood drives in Baker City aren’t among them. Read more
About 450 Baker County residents had their second dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Friday during the Baker County Health Department’s third major clinic at Baker High School. Read more
Baker County’s rate of new COVID-19 cases has risen over the past week or so to the highest level in more than two months. Read more
The air inside the Baker County Library District’s main branch in Baker City has never been cleaner, Ed Adamson says, his pride palpable even though most of the particles that are no longer wafting about were never visible to the naked eye. Read more
For the second straight year, the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted the cancellation of the Easter egg hunt in Geiser-Pollman Park. Read more
Baker County is doing well, compared with Oregon’s 35 other counties, in vaccinating its residents against COVID-19. Read more
Baker School District students in Grades 7-12 will be returning to classes four days a week beginning April 12 if all goes as planned in the next few weeks. Read more
Baker County will return to the lowest risk level for COVID-19 spread on Friday, March 26, after being at the moderate risk level since March 12. Read more
The Baker City Council on Tuesday evening, March 23 will consider approving a resolution declaring an “economic, mental health and criminal activity crisis” resulting from Oregon COVID-19 mandates that the resolution deems “arbitrary, ineffective, and draconian.” Read more
Baker County will receive $3.13 million, and Baker City $2 million, from the federal COVID-19 aid bill that President Joe Biden signed last week. Read more
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported today that an 81-year-old man in Baker County died on March 11, three days after testing positive for COVID-19. Read more
Baker County had the biggest day of its COVID-19 vaccination effort on Friday, March 12. Read more
An 85-year-old Baker County man who died on March 6 at his home was the 11th county resident to die after testing positive for COVID-19, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) reported on Thursday, March 11. Read more
Nick Cripe found himself with some extra time between jobs as a firefighter and paramedic. Read more
Another Baker County residents has died after testing positive for COVID-19, bringing the county's death toll during the pandemic to 11. Read more
Baker County’s COVID-19 risk level rises by one, from lowest to moderate, on Friday, March 12, but the effects on restaurants and bars, and other businesses and activities, are relatively minor. Read more
A 64-year-old Baker County woman died March 7 after testing positive for COVID-19 on Feb. 18, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced on Tuesday, March 9. Read more
Due to an increase in COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks, Baker County will move from the lowest of Oregon's four risk levels to the second-lowest starting Friday, March 12. Read more
A 64-year-old Baker County woman who died March 7 at Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise is the 10th county resident to die after testing positive for COVID-19, the Oregon Health Authority announced today. Read more
The Class 1A state tournaments don’t just bring exciting basketball to Baker City. Read more
The Baker High School gymnasium, normally a bustling place throughout the winter, has been placid the past few months. Read more
Kathy Taylor is supposed to be exhausted right now. Read more
Fifteen cases of COVID-19 have been reported at Settler’s Park memory care community in Baker City. Read more
Two Baker County residents died on Feb. 26, two days after testing positive for COVID-19, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced on Tuesday, March 2. Read more
Two more Baker County residents have died from COVID-19, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced today, March 2. Read more
Becky and Bruce Litke were excited at the prospect that a brief pinprick will lead to them seeing their grandchildren and great-grandchildren again. Read more
The Baker High School volleyball team has a lot to get used to during a season first postponed, and now shortened, by the pandemic. Read more
Terry McQuisten will welcome moviegoers back to the Eltrym Theater on March 5 — the 13th anniversary of when she and her husband, Dan, purchased the business. Read more
Under the glow of the stadium lights, the Baker Bulldog football players are doing something they haven’t done in well over a year. Read more
After a five-week decline in COVID-19 cases that dropped Baker County into the state’s lowest risk level starting Feb. 12, the case rate is rising again. Read more
Baker County should stay in the lowest risk category under the state’s COVID-19 guidelines through at least the second week of March, County Commissioner Mark Bennett said on Saturday, Feb. 20. Read more
A modest rise in Baker County’s rate of COVID-19 cases this week has pushed the county close to moving up one level on the state’s risk level starting Feb. 26. Read more
Baker County is on pace to remain in the lowest risk category for COVID-19 spread, with the least-stringent restrictions on businesses and activities, into the second week of March. Read more
Vaccinating the county’s older citizens against COVID-19 is foremost on the minds of most Baker County residents these days. Read more

Lori Brock figures she’s given about 125 COVID-19 vaccinations, but the arm she’s preparing to pierce is like no other. Read more
Despite snow showers and temperatures hovering around 20 degrees, 300 Baker County residents, most of them age 80 or older, received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine Friday morning, Feb. 12 at Baker High School. Read more
Liz White’s restaurant was better positioned than some to endure COVID-19 restrictions, but she’s still excited that those limits will ease in Baker County starting on Friday, Feb. 12. Read more
Baker County will drop to the lowest risk level for COVID-19 spread — and be subject to the least stringent state restrictions on businesses and other activities — starting Friday, Feb. 12. Read more
The COVID-19 outbreak at Powder River Correctional Facility in Baker City has slowed considerably over the past two weeks, and an official at the minimum-security prison said she’s pleased with the trend. Read more
Theresa Ball hated to type the words announcing that her Baker City business, Chill’z frozen yogurt, would no longer be serving sweet treats. Read more
Two Baker Middle School students and one teacher have been quarantined this week after one of the students tested positive for COVID-19. Read more
More than 500 Baker County residents age 80 and older could be vaccinated for COVID-19 over the next week or so. Read more
In its first 30 minutes or so, Baker County's COVID-19 vaccine call center fielded more than 300 calls from residents who wanted to have their name added to a waiting list to receive a vaccination. Read more
Baker County dropped from the extreme-risk level under the state’s COVID-19 guidelines to high risk on Friday, Feb. 5, Baker County Commissioner Mark Bennett said. Read more
For the second straight day, the Oregon Health Authority has reported a COVID-19-related death of a Baker County resident, the seventh since the pandemic started in March 2020. Read more
Baker County’s COVID-19 death toll stands at six, after a 59-year-old man died on Feb. 1, the Oregon Health Authority announced Wednesday, Feb. 3. Read more
Baker County’s COVID-19 vaccination effort will expand next week when the Safeway and Albertsons pharmacies are slated to each receive about 100 doses. Read more
Baker County Commissioner Mark Bennett and other county officials are trying to ensure that the county’s significant decline in new COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks results in an easing of restrictions on local businesses and other activities. Read more
The director of Baker County’s Health Department is optimistic that the county will be ready to start COVID-19 vaccinations for county residents 80 and older the second week of February. Read more
Gov. Kate Brown on Thursday ordered 32,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines redirected to the Portland area instead of going to other parts of the state. Read more
Baker County’s current slowdown in new COVID-19 cases started too late to spare the county from two more weeks subject to the state’s tightest restrictions on businesses and other activities. Read more
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced Tuesday afternoon that Baker County will remain in the extreme-risk category for the spread of COVID-19 through at least Feb. 11. Read more
Baker County might have met one of the two requirements to move down from extreme to high on the state’s COVID-19 risk level starting Friday, Jan. 29. Read more
Baker County’s rate of new COVID-19 cases over the six-day period ending Thursday, Jan. 21, was the slowest in almost three months. Read more
Baker County has recovered most of the jobs it lost early in the COVID-19 pandemic, but the county’s unemployment rate, driven by continuing struggles in the restaurant and hospitality industry, remains higher than it was for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019. Read more
As students waited for doors to Baker Middle School to open Wednesday morning to admit them to their one day a week of in-person instruction, a small sampling of them said they were eager for next week, when their classroom time will be doubled. Read more
Mark Witty, Baker School District superintendent, announced Tuesday that students at Baker Middle School and Baker High School will start attending in-person classes two days per week on Jan. 25. Read more
Ten months after its bid to repeat as state champions was stopped by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Baker High School girls varsity basketball team was able to practice again. Read more
Baker County’s plan to start offering COVID-19 vaccinations to older residents later this week has hit a snag. Read more
Dave McGuire figures Oregonians should be able to decide for themselves whether to sit down in a restaurant and have a meal. Read more
Kerry McQuisten is Baker City’s new mayor. Read more
Walking into the Baker High School gymnasium on the fourth day of 2021, Buell Gonzales Jr. heard something he hadn’t heard in months. Read more
Baker County’s respite from Oregon’s most extreme COVID-19 restrictions will last just two weeks. Read more
The number of Baker County residents who have received their first of two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine has nearly doubled over the past week. Read more
Baker County will return to the extreme-risk level for COVID-19 spread, and the resulting stringent restrictions on restaurants and other businesses, starting Friday, Jan. 15. Read more
Mark Bennett references a roller coaster, while Tyler Brown’s favored metaphor is the yo-yo, but both are concerned about fluctuating restrictions in Baker County due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting effects on local businesses. Read more
The Baker School District is gearing up to extend in-person instruction for all middle school and high school students to two days per week next semester. Read more
Volunteers draped in medical garments were prepped and ready to go at noon Wednesday outside Baker High School as residents lined up in their vehicles to get a free COVID-19 test. Read more
Ashley McClay says she’s learned a lot about the COVID-19 vaccines being administered to frontline workers in Baker County, and she’s confident that receiving the shot was the best choice for her. Read more
Baker County’s recent rate of positive COVID-19 tests could move the county back into the extreme-risk category after the current two-week stint at the high-risk level with its less stringent restrictions on restaurants and other businesses. Read more
Baker County ranks near the middle of Oregon’s 36 counties in its rate of administering COVID-19 vaccines. Read more
Baker County is hosting a free COVID-19 testing clinic on Wednesday, Jan. 6 from noon to 5 p.m. in the rear parking lot at Baker High School, 2500 E St. Read more
After working for several months treating people who are recovering from bouts with COVID-19, Lori Brock now uses a telephone to fight the virus. Read more
Students at Baker Middle School and Baker High School could return to in-person classes for two days per week, instead of the current one, later this month. Read more
Baker County will drop from the extreme to the high risk category for COVID-19 spread starting Friday, Jan. 1, which means restaurants can have limited indoor dining, and fitness centers, theaters and museums can open, also with occupancy limits, for the first time in almost a month. Read more
After reviewing records showing how severely the pandemic has affected dozens of Baker County businesses, Bruce Nichols understands that nearly $700,000 in federal aid is no panacea. Read more
Public health officials from six rural counties, including Baker, have sent a letter to the Oregon Health Authority asking state officials to ease COVID-19 restrictions in the counties and give local health officials authority to decide whether more stringent limits are needed to combat the virus. Read more
Baker County Commisssioner Mark Bennett said that due to a mistake in tallying COVID-19 cases, the county will not stay in the extreme risk category through Jan. 14, but will instead drop to the high risk category starting on Friday, Jan. 1. Read more
Public health officials from six rural counties, including Baker, have sent a letter to the Oregon Health Authority asking state officials to ease COVID-19 restrictions in the counties and give local health officials authority to decide whether more stringent limits are needed to combat the virus. Read more
The Powder River Correctional Facility in Baker City has had 18 inmates test positive for COVID-19. Read more
Dave McGuire doesn’t want a government handout. Read more
Friday, Dec. 18 was a landmark day in the COVID-19 pandemic at Saint Alphonsus Medical Center in Baker City. Read more
Doses of COVID-19 vaccine will be soon be available for residents and staff at nursing homes across Oregon. Read more
Mandy Peterson’s temporary new job can be emotionally taxing at times, but it’s also rewarding. Read more